Driving-gear for cycles or the like.



No. 719,417. PATENTED'FEB. 3, 1903'. .B. R. AVERY. DRIVING GEAR FORCYCLES OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1902. no MODEL.

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DRIVING-GEAR FOR CYCLES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 719,417,

dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed June 28, 1902. Serial No. 113,655. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BER'IRAM RICHARD AVERY, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to theDriving-Gear of Cycles or the Like, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the driving-gear for bicycles, tricycles, andother similar vehicles in which the driving-wheel is free to revolvewhile the cranks and their connections remain stationary, commonly knownas a free wheel. In this free-wheel drivinggear as heretoforeconstructed both cranks have been fixed to the crank-spindle in theordinary way, and as a result of this arrangement of the cranks afeeling of instability is engendered and the rider is placed in anuncomfortable position when riding without pedaling.

My invention is designed to enable the rider to sit more firmly andcomfortably on the cycle and to assume a more elegant position,particularly in the case of a lady rider, when not pedaling. It alsoenables a backpedaling brake to be more readily controlled or operatedand the machine to be more easily balanced, thereby avoiding undue wearand tear.

It consists, essentially, in constructing the driving-gear so that thepedals afiixed to both cranks may be brought to the same level or intothe same position relative to the crankspindle or bottom bracket toafford a firm rest for the feet of the rider when the cranks arestationary.

The invention will be easily understood on reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein sufficient of the driving-gear is shown to clearlyillustrate the embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a part-sectional elevation; Fig. 2, asectional elevation of Fig. 1 on line a; a). Fig. 3 is a plan of themortise or slot Z, formed on the inside of the outer fiange D.

A designates the bottom bracket, and B the crank-spindle arrangedtherein. The bracket and spindle may be fitted with the ordinaryball-bearin gs or any other suitable construction of bearing,

as may be preferred. 0 C are the two cranks. The crank O is keyed orotherwise fixed on one extremity of the spindle B. The other crank C isloosely mounted on the opposite extremity of the crank-spindle B. Theend of the spindle contained within the crank O is formed with anannular groove 0, and a set-screw c is screwed through the crank intoengagement with the groove 0, thereby retaining the crank in positionwhile permitting it to revolve around or partially around the spindle B.The crankO is constructed on the inside with a disk d, formed with anannular projection or flange D, concentric with the crank-spindle B.

E is the sprocket-wheel, arranged on the crank-spindle B between thefree crank O and the bottom bracket A. This sprocket-wheel may be of anyordinary or suitable construction. It is shown comprising a center piece6 and an outer portion 6, on which are formed the sprockets or teeth,fixed to the center piece 6 by means of the screws or studs e Thesprocket-wheel center 6 on that side next the crank O is formed with aboss 6 On the sprocket-wheel center 6, around the boss 6 is formed anannular projection or flange 6 which telescopes into the cylindricalprojection or flange D, formed on the free crank C. This forms aninclosed annular chamber between the crank C and the sprocket wheel E.In this chamber and around the boss e is arranged a collapsible springF. The spring E, which is concentrically disposed around the boss e ofthe sprocketwheel E, is, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, con structed ofa number of leaves f, which when the spring is placed in compressionfold upon or against one another on their inner points f. To act as aguide for the several sections or leaves of the spring F, two looserings g and g are fitted on and free to rotate around the boss or center0 of the crank O or on the boss e of the sprocket-wheel E. The rings gand g are each formed with a peripheral lug or projection g by whichthey are connected with the inner ends of alternate sections of theleaves f of the spring F by means of the pins 9 This arrangement insuresthe spring collapsing around the boss 6 of the E and prevents thesections sprocket-wheel bulging outward when the spring is compressed.One extremity of the spring F is fixed to the boss 6 of thesprocket-Wheel E by means of an angle-plate or bracket h, which issecurely held in position by means of a nut h on the set-screw or stud hThe stud Z2 is screwed through the boss into engagement with a hole orrecess formed in the crank-spindle B and the sprocket-wheel therebyfixed to the crank-spindle. When the sprocket-wheel E has been fixed tothe crankspindle B by the stud 77, the nut h is then tightened tofix thebracket h to the boss a The boss is shown formed with a fiat it on whichthe bracket it rests when in position. The other extremity of the springF is connected with the free crank C by means of an angle-piece orbracket j. The bracketj is fixed to the crank by means of the set-screwor stud j. It is shown (see Fig. 2) formed with a radial slotj to permitof any required adjustment of the spring F. The set-screw or stud h2 isarranged so as to engage the setscrew or stud 3' when the cranks are intheir normal positions, as shown in the drawings, and they constitutethe means whereby the crank C is locked to the sprocket-wheel E to driveor propel the cycle.

On the inside of the flange e of the sprocket- Wheel E a spring-catchjcis fixed, adapted to lock the flanges D and 9 together, first, when thecranks are in their tions and also when the free crank (J is broughtopposite or into a position level or approximately level with the fixedcrank O. This catch comprises a flat spring 70, fixed to the inside ofthe flange e by means of the pin or rivet On the end or tail of thespring k a projection 71: is formed, which enters a slot or hole formedin the inner flange e to prevent the spring turning bodily on the pinit. In the other and free end of the spring 70 is fixed a stud 'or pin70 which, as seen in Fig. 2, projects through a transverse slotlot-formed in the inner flange e of the sprocket-wheel E, and drops intoengagement with a coincident hole 7c formed in the flange D of the freecrank C. The stud or pin k is beveled off on one side, as hole 70* inthe outer flange D is formed with a corresponding bevel on one side, sothat when the free crank O is turned backward and the other crank heldstationary the stud 70 slides out of engagement with the hole 70 in theouter flange D. This arrangement tends to maintain the free crank O inthe driving position until forcibly released and prevents any play orlooseness between the free crank O and sprocket-wheel E.

In Fig. 3 the means for temporarily locking the free crank 0 when it isbrought into the same position as the fixed crank 0 relative to thecrank-spindle B are illustrated. In the interior of the outer flange D,diametrically opposite the hole 70 is formed a mortise or slot Z,forming a ledge or projection Z, which is engaged by the stud k of thespringuntil the stud it normal posi-v seen at H, and the catch 70. Infront ofthis ledge or projection 'Z an incline or inclined surface Z isformed,

up which the stud k rides when the parts are operated to bring the stud70 out of engagement with the ledge Z of the mortise Z. Beyond theincline Z is a further ledge'or ridge Z inclined inward or toward thecenter of the flange, which operates, as shown in Fig. 3, when the studk drops into engagement with it to direct the free end of the springinward comes in contact with a rib Z, which carries the stud k beyond orclear of the mortise Z, and thereby permits the free crank O to bereturned toits normal position by the spring F.

In bringing the pedals C C to the same position relative to the spindleB the action of the mechanism may be describedas follows: Assuming thatboth cranks are in their normal or driving positions, as shown in thedrawings, the fixed crank O is held stationary and the free crank Crotated backward. This movement rotates the outer flange D, which forcesthe stud k of the spring-catch 7t up the beveled edge k out of the holek? in the outer flan e D. The set-screwy" is also carried backward outof contact with the setscrew it and the spring F thereby collapsed andcompressed around the boss e of the sprocket wheel E. When the crankO'is brought opposite or in line with the crank G or into the sameposition relative to the bottom bracket A, the stud k of thespring-catch 7t drops into engagement with the mortise or .slot Z,engages the ledge Z, and thereby locks the free crank ,O to thesprocketwheel E, crank-spindle B, and fixed crank O. Instead of movingthe free crank O backward the free crank may be held stationary and the'fixed crank O, and with it the crank-spindle B and sprocket-wheel E, bemoved forward half a revolution to bring the cranks into the samepositions relative to the bottom bracket A. When it is desired to returnthe free crank O to its normal position, it is pushed slightly forwardand the fixed crank held stationary, (or the fixed crankmoved slightlybackward and the loose crank kept stationary,) which movement causes thestud k of the springcatch 76 to ride up the incline Z and to drop intoengagement with the ridge Z The ridge Z directs the stud Z0 inward untilit engages the rib Z which-rib carries the stud clear of the mortise Z,and thereby allows the spring F to return the free crank O to its normalor driving position.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent,is

1. A free-wheel driving-gear for cycles and the like in which one of thecranks is loosely mounted on the crank-spindle so that it may be turnedbackward or the fixed crank turned forward half a revolution to bringthe cranks into the same relative position to the crankspindle to placethe pedals level, means for locking the loose crank to the spindle ateach vend of its movement, and means for unlocking it when said crank isto be returned to its normal position, for the purposes specified.

2. In a free-wheel driving-gear for cycles and the like, the combinationwith the crankspindle of a crank fixed on one extremity thereof, and acrank loosely mounted on the other extremity, a sprocket-wheel fixed onthe crankspindle, means for locking the free crank to the sprocket-wheelwhen in the normal or driving position, and a spring connected with thesprocket-wheel and the free crank which is compressed when the cranksarebrought into the same position relative to the bottom bracket, and actswhen released to return the free crank to normal or driving position,substantially as described.

3. In a free-wheel driving-gear for cycles and the like the combinationwith the crankspindle and the crank fixed on one end thereof, of a crankloosely mounted on the other end, a sprocket-wheel fixed on thecrankspindle, a spring disposed around the crankspindle, fixed atoneextremity to the free crank and at the other extremity to thesprocket-wheel for returning the free crank to the driving position whenreleased and maintaining it in that position, and means for locking thefree crank to the sprocketwheel and fixed crank when it has beenoperated to bring the pedals aflixed to both cranks into the sameposition relative to the crank-spindle, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

4. In a-free-wheel driving-gear for cycles and the like, in combination,the crank-spindle B, the fixed crank O on one end thereof, the freecrank G on the other end thereof, the sprocket-wheel E the concentric.collapsible spring F adjustably fixed at one extremity to the free crankand at the other to the sprocket-wheel, the loose rings g and g forguiding the spring as it is compressed, and a spring-catch adapted tolock the free crank to the sprocket-wheel when the cranks are operatedto bring the pedals level, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

5. In combination, in a free-wheel drivinggear for cycles and the like,the crank-spindle B, the fixed crank O, the free crank C, the annularflange D of the crank C, the sprocket-wheel E, the concentriccollapsible spring F adjustably attached at one end to the crank C andat the other end to the sprocket-wheel E, the annular flange e of thesprocket-wheel fitting into the flange D of the crank O, thespring-catch attached to the inner flange e and the mortiselto beengaged by the spring-catch to lock the cranks together when they arebrought into the same position relative to thevcrank-spindle,substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a driving-gear for cycles and the like,

the combination with the free crank C and the annular flange D thereof,of the sprocketwheel E and the annular flange e telescoping into theflange D, the spring-catch 7c and the pin or stud it the mortisel in theinterior of the outer flange forming a ledge l to be engaged by the pin70 to lock the cranks together when the pedals are level, the incline Zand the ridge Z and rib Z to direct the pin 7& out of engagement withthe mortise Z when the mechanism is operated to return the free crank toits normal position, substantially as described.

7. In a driving-gear for cycles and the like, the combination with thecrank-spindle B of the fixed crank 0' attached to one end thereof, theannular groove 0 in the other end of the crank-spindle, the loose crankO and the set-screw c screwed through the crank into engagement with thegroove 0, the disk d of the crank O, and its annular flange D, thesprocket-wheel E and its boss e and concentric annular flange e forminga closed compartment with the flange D, the collapsible spring Fcomprising the several folding leaves f the loose rings g and gconnected with the inner ends of the leaves f of the springs to compelthe spring to collapse around the boss 6 the adjustable bracket j andthe stud j fixing one end of the spring to the crank C, the stud kfixing the sprocket-wheel E to the crank-spindle B, the studs 7L and jbeing arranged to engage each other to form the driving connectionbetween the free crank and the sprocket-wheel when in the drivingposition, the bracket h and the nut h on the stud 7L2 fixing the otherextremity of the spring F to the boss e of the sprocket-wheel E, thespring is fixed inside the inner flange e the projection 70 on the endthereof, the pin or stud 70 of the spring, the slot 10 in the innerflange through which the pin 70 projects, the hole k in the outer flangeto be engaged by the pin 163 when the cranks are in normal position, themortise l in the outer flange D forming the ledge l with which the pin kengages to lock the cranks when they are brought into the same positionrelative to the crank-spindle B, the incline l in front of the ledge Z,the ridge 1 beyond the incline and the rib l for directing the pin 70clear of the mortise Z when the crank is moved to return it to thenormal or driving position, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BERTRAM RICHARD AVERY.

Witnesses:

H. C. BEHR, OHAs. OVENDALE.

